THE HOME.

White Ribbon, Volume 8, Issue 96, 1 May 1903, Page 11

THE HOME.

The Power of Thought. By A. W.

This mysterious thing we call life is for many, perhaps for the majority, a con* tinuous struggle. Betwixt knowing and doing a gulf seems to be for ever fixed which must be bridged if lasting satisfaction is to be obtained. “ If ye know,” “ happy are ye,’ if ye do. This is true for every individual, and the power is not miraculously achieved in an hour, or a day, or a week. It is attained by constantly guarding the door of the thought which is the parent of our words and actions.

When once we realise the truth that every one comes to his own, that none can escape from reaping what he has sown, we see how’ absolutely just is the law that governs destiny. With this knowledge it is manifestly weak and puerile to sit down and lament that our infirmity comes from this source or that alien to ourselves; that it lies in our heredity or in our environment. We must shoulder our burdens manfully, and realise that if today is the result of the thought, and word, and action of the yesterdays, the to-morrows will be what we are making to-day. Therefore bow important for each one of us is it to live greatly In the present, believing that there is nothing but good at the source of all things, and that this all-good has every soul in its keeping. But achievement in this direction, as in every other, means concentrated and directed energy. Genius, it has been said, is the capacity for taking infinite

pains, lhe scientist lalxmrs long years to discover the secret which so persistently eludes him. The orator arrives at his powers after numberless efforts which are individually apparent failures. The explorer discovers the unknown lands after long and arduous endurance The man who conquers himself must follow' on similar lines. His purpose must be firm, his eye must be single. He must enter into his closet, close the door, and commune there with his Father which is in secret, that is, he must deliberately bar the door of the mind against all base and intrusive thoughts, and commune silently with the soul and life and source of all, which is known by its attributes power, truth, peace, righteousness, beauty, joy ; which makes its sun to shine on the just and on the unjust; which know's no shadow’ of turning; which holds all its children in its almighty arms; whose laws are unfailing ; whose supreme name is Love. At such moments deep calls to deep, time and space are annihilated, the flood-gates of infinity are opened, and from the Over Soul neither height nor depth, nor things present, nor things to come, can separate.

* Spt*ak to Him, then, for He hears, And Spirit with Spiv it can meet, Closer is He than breathing, And nearer than bands and feet."